Wednesday 29 December 2010

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 6-1 Dundee Stars

Stingrays hit Stars for six

Excel Hull Stingrays 6-1 Dundee Stars

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight put six goals past former netminder Ladislav Kurdna as they beat playoff rivals the Dundee Stars by six goals to one in the two sides first meeting at the Hull Arena in exactly five years.

In a chippy affair, which saw Dundee receive 64 minutes in penalties, goals from Andrew Coburn, Jason Silverthorn, Trevor Read, Kurtis Dulle and a double from player-coach Sylvain Cloutier eased the home Stingrays to a routine win over their playoff rivals on Matt Suderman's first appearance in the Hull, having initially signed in the city this summer, and Ladislav Kurdna's return.

The result, combined with Braehead's unlikely shootout victory over Nottingham leaves the Stingrays still two points behind the Scottish side but with four games in hand to claim the much coveted sixth spot.

Rays Rating
7.5

FBB Three Stars
1- Konstantin Kalmikov (0+4)
2- Drew Bannister (0+1)
3- Andrew Coburn (1+1)

Tuesday 28 December 2010

Vipers strike to sink Stingrays

Hull Stingrays 2-3 Newcastle Vipers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight failed to complete a double over Elite League bottom side the Newcastle Vipers. Claiming just a point of the two on offer thanks to an Andrew Coburn double, Sylvain Cloutier's team eventually fell to a Kyle Sibley overtime marker with less than 60 seconds to play despite controlling large portions of the game at the Hull Arena.

Without Lee Esders (concussion), Matti Uusivirta and Lee Mitchell (knee), the Rays headed into the game on the back of a emphatic 7-4 win in Newcastle the previous night and took the initiative early on as Andrew Coburn fired home his first of two on the night short side on Vipers keeper Charlie Effinger, who would eventually turn away 33 shots.

The Vipers then levelled thanks to Dale Mahovsky, who deked his way around Christian Boucher just moments after Patrick Forsbacka had tied up the ever impressive Drew Bannister way off the puck in an infringement that went unseen by referee Andy Carson.

Despite the visitors having the advantage in the first ten minutes of the second, it was the Stingrays who once again took the lead with rookie Coburn again on the board after a turnover which Konstantin Kalmikov unselfishly layed off to the Canadian to score.

However, once again the Vipers, who visibly worked tirelessly as a team all night long, levelled, capitalising on a powerplay opportunity after Jozef Sladok had taken a wholly unnecessary rough call on John Schwarz, with Finn Patrick Forsbacka scoring on the man advantage after Kurtis Dulle had come close, but not close enough, to clearing the puck around the boards.

The Stingrays came out in the third and final period and well and truly took control of the game with Newcastle tiring, but ultimately they lacked the cutting edge that had seemingly been evident the night before. Effinger had a large part to play in keeping the Rays out though, stopping 13 third period shots, most notably making a sprawling save on a two-on-one which Matty Davies couldn't quite get a good enough connection on to force home with minutes remaining.

Danny Stewart will have been delighted with the point, particularly as his side had a clear game plan to take the extra point going into overtime. With Effinger in fine form and seemingly confident of stopping everything the Rays could throw at him, the Vipers invited the home side onto them, soaking up almost four minutes of pressure before counter attacking to strike the critical blow through defenceman Kyle Sibley on their only shot of the extra period with 57 seconds to play. Importantly, the shot clinched the Vipers first win on the road in 12..

Cloutier must regroup his troops from a disappointing but acceptable overtime loss given the 7-4 victory the previous night, although a result against Dundee tomorrow night is massive given his side are just two points off sixth placed Braehead and beginning to flag somewhat.

Rays Rating
6

FBB Three Stars
1- Drew Bannister (0+0)
2- Andrew Coburn (2+0)
3- Kurtis Dulle (0+0)

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-3 Newcastle Vipers

Monday 27 December 2010

Tendler trick helps Stingrays to win in Newcastle

Newcastle Vipers 4-7 Excel Hull Stingrays

A second Jereme Tendler hat-trick of the season tonight helped the Excel Hull Stingrays to a three goal victory over bottom side Newcastle in Whitley Bay.

The Stingrays, once again without Lee Mitchell who underwent surgery on his troublesome knee during the Christmas break, found themselves 3-2 down thanks to Newcastle goals from Dale Mahovsky, Jamie Carroll and Adam Reynolds with coach Sylvain Cloutier and Tendler bagging goals for the visitors.

Jason Silverthorn's first of the night levelled the scores four and a half minutes into the second only for Mike Prpich to restore the Vipers lead six minutes later. However, with less than five minutes remaining in the period Drew Bannister bagged a timely first goal for the club, shorthanded, to equalise at four each heading into the final period.

Tendler took matters into his own hands nearly three minutes into the third, giving the Stingrays the lead for the first time before sealing his second hat-trick of the year six minutes later.

Silverthorn's second of the night, an empty net goal with 85 seconds to play, then sealed the result in favour of the Rays with Newcastle due to travel to Hull tomorrow night.

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Cardiff down Rays again

Cardiff Devils 4-1 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight returned to South Wales and the scene of last month's 12-0 capitulation, and once again went down to the Cardiff Devils, this tie losing out by four goals to one.

Amazingly the Stingrays lead after 20 minutes play thanks to a fifth minute Konstantin Kalmikov shorthanded goal, however, after being out shot 26-2 that is as close to victory as Sylvain Cloutier's side would come.

Although they held that lead for more than half of the game mainly thanks to a man of the match performance from keeper Christian Boucher, a 35th minute marker from Cardiff coach Gerad Adams would end that resistance and a Jon Pelle powerplay goal two minutes later would finally give the home side the lead they deserved.

A further third period goal from Scott Matzka and another from Pelle gave the Devils a fairly comfortable 4-1 win that initially looked doubtful in a penalty strewn game.

Despite losing and being outshot 56-23, the Stingrays will leave South Wales with their dignity still in tact, unlike their last visit in the infamous 12-0 horror show.

The squad now break up for a four day Christmas break before taking to the ice against Newcastle in Whitley Bay on Monday, which is quickly followed by a home double header against Dundee and that same Newcastle side in a crucial three days for the team.

Saturday 18 December 2010

Rays Challenge Cup campaign ends in defeat

Excel Hull Stingrays 0-2 Coventry Blaze

In their final Challenge Cup game of the year the Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight shut out by the Coventry Blaze, losing by two goals to nil thanks to two first period goals.

With both sides already mathematically out of the competition, the game was never going to be played with the intensity of Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final, but it did remain important for the Rays to keep up the momentum of their recent run.

However, thanks to a pair of first period goals from Aaron Nell and Luke Fulghum it was the Blaze that deservedly claimed the win to level the teams four game series at two-a-piece and end the club's cup campaign with defeat, having fired 42 shots on Christian Boucher.

The result leaves the Stingrays bottom of Challenge Cup Group B with four points, a win over Coventry and draws against Nottingham and Cardiff, three points behind the Blaze and five behind Sheffield, Cardiff and Nottingham, who continue to battle for a semi final spot.

In midweek the Stingrays return to face the Devils at the venue where they were thrashed 12-0 four weeks ago before an away game in Whitley Bay against Newcastle two days after Christmas day.

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Stingrays battle to second win over Clan

Excel Hull Stingrays 4-2 Braehead Clan

After having their three game win streak ended by Dundee on Sunday, the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight bounced back with a 4-2 victory over the Braehead Clan that puts them just one point behind tonight's sixth placed Scottish opponents with four games in hand.

In a largely quiet opening period, the Stingrays took the lead through their first real opportunity as Andrew Coburn netted on a powerplay attempt. The rookie Canadian, who has improved no end in his first year as a pro, luckily netted having fired a low shot in off a Clan defenceman on a man advantage that the Stingrays rarely looked like scoring on.

Although the Clan barely troubled Christian Boucher in the Stingrays net during the opening stanza, former NHLer Jordan Krestanovich did think he had put the puck past Boucher 11 minutes in, having been left all alone in front of the Rays keeper, only for the referee Andy Carson to confirm the puck had not crossed the line.

The Stingrays continued to grow into the first period and ended it well on top, with Trevor Read, who probably enjoyed his best game in a Rays jersey yet, coming very close to doubling the home sides lead, pinging one off the crossbar.

The second would prove to be a mixed affair with the Rays heavily dominating the early stages before Bruce Richardson's side found some jump to dominate the game in their favour.

Two minutes and 22 seconds in Jereme Tendler netted yet another brilliant shorthanded goal. Intercepting a pass well in his own zone, the Stingrays leading scorer chipped the puck between two Clan defencemen on the blueline before expertly outwaiting JF Perras to find the twine and double the lead.

Konstantin Kalmikov followed that up quickly with a goal on his return to action, using his first class shot to beat a surprised Perras, as the it looked as though the home team side would run away with the victory.

It proved to be a little more difficult than that however, as Dominic Noel, easily the Clans standout player, fired home on a massive rebound from Boucher on 12 minutes. Just moments earlier gritty Braehead forward Kyle Bruce had agitated the Stingrays, and most notably Jozef Sladok, having gone in late on Boucher, and it could be argued that the big Slovak was pre-occupied with revenge as Noel fired home.

The goal energised Richardson and the Clan, as they turned the tables on the Stingrays by penning them in for much of the remainder of the period. Thankfully for Sylvain Cloutier, the Rays D held steady preventing any further damage to their lead, as they went in with a two goal advantage.

They did narrow that lead to one just under five and a half minutes into the final period as Ryan Campbell wickedly redirected a point shot from Jon Landry but that is as close as they would come as the Stingrays were against forced to cling on as the Clan pushed for the leveler.

With the Clan spurning a couple of chances, Jason Silverthorn roofed his shot high over the shoulder of Perras to end the game as a contest at 4-2 with minutes to play.

A meaningless final Challenge Cup fixture against Coventry follows at the Hull Arena on Saturday before the team go to Cardiff on Wednesday hoping to fare a little better than they did in the 12-0 thrashing last time they visited South Wales.
 
Rays Rating
7.5

FBB Three Stars
1- Trevor Read (0+0)
2- Jereme Tendler (1+0)
3- Sylvain Cloutier (0+2)

Sunday 12 December 2010

Rays fall short in Dundee

Dundee Stars 4-2 Excel Hull Stingrays

After winning three consecutive games the Excel Hull Stingrays trip to Dundee tonight proved one step too far as their win streak came to an end in a 4-2 defeat in Dundee.

The Rays, again without Konstantin Kalmikov and Lee Mitchell, travelled to Dundee straight from Coventry, having beaten the Blaze the night before, and got off to a much better start than their previous fixture in Tayside, where they found themselves down by four goals after ten minutes, with Lee Esders opening the scoring after 86 seconds.

Dan Ceman's Stars struck back less than six minutes later however, first netting through new signing Jay Latulippe before going ahead 17 seconds after levelling from the stick of player-assistant coach Brent Hughes.

Peter Cartwright extended the home sides lead 23 seconds before the end of the first, giving them a 3-1 lead they would hold on to for much of the game.

Mark Nebus, who had fought Rays defenceman Jozef Sladok in the first period, further extended that lead to three, 9 minutes and 39 seconds into the third. Although the Stingrays finally found the goal they had been searching for 21 seconds later from Andrew Coburn, who scored his third in three games, the two goal lead was eventually too much for Sylvain Cloutier's side to overcome.

The fixture ultimately proved a bridge too far for the Stingrays against a Dundee side that appears to be the club's bogey team this season and that is much improved since the beginning of the year. After wins over three of the top five, the loss is the first since the 12-0 humiliation in Cardiff and, given that fact, Cloutier can be proud of how his side have rebounded.

His team must now rebound once again, this time on Wednesday night against a Braehead team that they have both won and lost against in two meetings this year.

Saturday 11 December 2010

Red hot Stingrays claim second win in Coventry

Coventry Blaze 1-3 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays made it three wins in three games against the Elite League's top sides tonight, following up wins over Sheffield and Nottingham with a 3-1 triumph in Coventry over the Blaze.

The Stingrays were without Konstantin Kalmikov and Lee Mitchell, who has undergone treatment for his troublesome knee, and they got their away double header off to the perfect start, taking the lead 12 minutes in through Jason Silverthorn.

The home side got back on even terms with a Dan Carlson powerplay marker less than four minutes into the second but a third period goal from captain Kurtis Dulle and an empty netter from Andrew Coburn was enough to eke out the win for the inform Stingrays.

Sylvain Cloutier's side now face a long trek to Scotland to face bottom side Dundee Stars in a second away fixture of the weekend before a meeting with Braehead at the Hull Arena on Wednesday.

Friday 10 December 2010

Away double header is stern test for Cloutier's troops

The Excel Hull Stingrays 18 game old season can so far be easily summed up in one word: inconsistent. Winning every so often against both top and bottom sides but more often than not losing against the top four. But this weekend Sylvain Cloutier's side have a chance to turn that frustrating start into something of a hot streak.

Wins over Sheffield and Nottingham last weekend did wonders for the confidence at the club after crushing losses to Cardiff and Sheffield, and this weekend it is possible that the club could extend that streak to four. But it is the four results mentioned above that sum up the club's season so far perfectly, clinical on occasion and horrific on occasion but mostly pretty solid.

Ignoring the finer details of the victories and defeats of the past ten games, the Rays record stands at an pretty impressive six wins in ten. Perhaps more impressive is the fact they have four wins from six, with those wins almost exclusively coming against the top four.

Why have they turned it on recently? Well, in Jereme Tendler the club have a goalscoring forward in red-hot form and in Drew Bannister they have a player whose mere presence has solidified a blueline that previously leaked goals left, right and centre earlier in the year.

Of course, every single player has played an important role in the club's recent transformation, after all, earlier in the year nearly the exact same squad claimed just three points from 11 outings. Andrew Coburn and Christian Boucher, for instance, have played massive roles with very little fanfare heading the away double header.

Revenge is on the cards this weekend. First, the Rays must battle against a Coventry Blaze side wanting to make amends for the 5-1 Challenge Cup thrashing the Stingays handed them at the Skydome the last time the two sides met. The boot is on the other foot on Sunday night though, when they face a Dundee side that royally thumped them 9-4, again, last time they met.

It's a weekend that could make the Rays, setting them up for a charge at sixth placed Braehead with the two sides set to meet on Wednesday. And it certainly won't, or at least shouldn't, break them, bouncing back from that now infamous devastating 12-0 loss to Cardiff to tie with Nottingham proved that this team have more than their fair share of bouncebackability.

Two wins would go down very nicely as time ticks down alarmingly quickly towards the new year. A win would be a satifactory and expected outcome. However, if the double L is chalked up on the Stingrays form column at weekend's end, the word inconsistent may as well be stamped in bright red ink into the record books next to the entry for the 10-11 Excel Hull Stingrays.

In life and hockey, but particularly with the Stingrays, things are never easy. In which case, get out the chalk and red ink, this rollercoaster ride is going all the way.

Wednesday 8 December 2010

Tendler collects second EIHL Player of the Week award

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jereme Tendler has collected his second EIHL Player of the Week award in two months after picking up the last weeks accolade for his performances in the club's massive two win, four point weekend.

On Saturday, the Saskatchewan native bagged the first hat-trick of the Stingrays season in the 7-2 demolition of Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers. He went on to post a crucial goal and assist in the club's 5-4 shootout victory over Nottingham at the Trent FM Arena on Sunday, taking his goalscoring tally to an incredible 21 in 24 games.

Signed in the summer to score goals, the 27 year old has had a thoroughly impressive debut season in Europe, picking up the same award three weeks ago for bagging five goals in three games, including three shorthanded tally's.

His efforts have been crucial right throughout the year and will continue to be for the remainder of the year as Sylvain Cloutier's side search for the consistency that will allow them to retain and build on their current seventh place.

Sunday 5 December 2010

Stingrays seal second four pointer with shootout win in Nottingham

Nottingham Panthers 4-5 Excel Hull Stingrays (After Shootout)

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight completed a sensational four point weekend over two of the top teams in the country as they followed up last night's 7-2 success over the Sheffield Steelers with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Nottingham Panthers at the Trent FM Arena.

The Panthers headed into the game on the back of a tough loss in Coventry in which a line brawl cost them their number one netminder Craig Kowalski, who is expected to be out for a number of weeks with a groin injury.

Nevertheless, starting experienced backup Dan Green the home Panthers took advantage of the continually slow starting Stingrays, netting through Rob Bellamy after just 46 seconds. They barraged Christian Boucher's net with 50 shots over the course of the 65 minutes but it was the opening ten that Corey Neilson's side were at their most dangerous.

However, with that opening flurry of activity largely weathered, the Stingrays equalised on the powerplay from the stick of coach Sylvain Cloutier on 12 minutes sending the teams in level at the first intermission.

Cloutier's side opened the scoring four minutes and 48 seconds into the second as Trevor Read bagged just his second of the year on a feed from Drew Bannister, who recorded his first point in a Stingrays jersey.

The Panthers hit back 34 seconds later though with Jade Galbraith netting his first of the night before the adding a second three minutes later to put the home side in the lead once again.

Importantly, 28 seconds before the end of the second the Stingrays Jereme Tendler scored his 21st of the year and fourth of the weekend, on the powerplay, to once again level the scores heading into the final stanza.

Again Corey Neilson's side came out the stronger, taking the lead for the third and final time through Marc Levers but the plucky Stingrays responded with their third powerplay goal of the night through Andrew Coburn to tie the score at four and guarantee both sides at least point.

A scoreless overtime period ensued before shootout goals from Konstantin Kalmikov, Jason Silverthorn and Bannister, coupled with two Nottingham misses, handed the Rays a fantastic extra point to complete a well deserved and unforgettable four point weekend.

The weekend could be looked upon as one of the biggest and best in the Stingrays short Elite League history. Rarely, if ever have they easily dispatched one of the top four at home before heading away to beat another of the top four, and that is exactly what they have achieved this weekend.

The crushing 12-0 embarrassment in Cardiff is now a distant memory. Indeed, that result may have done the club well in the long term, with the addition of player-assistant coach Drew Bannister likely another huge factor in the change in fortunes.

The club's week-on-week consistency will again be under scrutiny next weekend as they face an away double header. On Saturday they travel to ownership rivals Coventry before heading all the way up to in-form Dundee, who are the only Elite League side that the Rays have yet to beat this year, on Sunday.

Saturday 4 December 2010

Seventh heaven for Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 7-2 Sheffield Steelers

An outstanding, hard working performance from the Excel Hull Stingrays tonight saw them easily overcome title chasers the Sheffield Steelers. After going two goals down the Stingrays once again bounced back to win by seven goals to two with goalscorer Jereme Tendler helping himself to the first Stingrays hat trick of the season.

Buoyed by the return of British defenceman Craig Mitchell from a broken arm but minus brother Lee Mitchell, who presumably sat out once again because of his troublesome knee, Sylvain Cloutier reshuffled his pack moving Jozef Sladok into the forward role that Kriss Grundmanis ominously took up in his final days with the club.

Aware that a good start was crucial, coach Cloutier set the example early on with some aggressive forechecking, however, an early penalty against Aivars Gaisins put them on the backfoot.

The Steelers, who were without Jonathan Phillips and Jeff Legue, opened the scoring on the ensuing powerplay after a defensive misjudgement allowed Joey Talbot to score just moments after Jereme Tendler had been stoned by Ervins Mustukovs on another shorthanded breakaway at the other end.

They then doubled their advantage less than two minutes later as Rob Globke found Tom Squires, who hit the only spot on Boucher's net possible after Andrew Coburn had misjudged a bounce off the sideboards.

Two down, the Stingrays had yet to get themselves into the game, but they finally did after ten minutes when Matti Uusivirta, Konstantin Kalmikov and Matty Davies combined well to give Finn Uusivirta a chance he would not pass up.

Kalmikov then bagged a goal of his own, wheeling around the Sheffield D before firing the puck with just enough power for it to trickle over the line to level the scores.

Globke, who recently bagged a rare hat trick of shorthanded goals against Newcastle, would later have a big chance to again give the Steelers the lead on the man disadvantage but, after dancing around three Stingrays, he could not find the finish to match his earlier silky skills.

The home side completed their comeback from two goals down a minute and eight seconds into the second as Jereme Tendler bagged his first of the night, one timing a shot home on the powerplay.

15 minutes later former Steeler Ryan Lake redirected home a tame Craig Mitchell point shot to put the Stingrays further ahead into the same dreaded two goal lead that the visitors had blown earlier on in the game.

Thankfully for the Stingrays Kurtis Dulle made the most of a chance crafted from hard work by Davies in the corner to fire high past Ervins Mustukovs for a crucial 5-2 lead going into the third and to put to bed fears of a Sheffield comeback.

It was a 60 minute team effort from the home side and further proof of that came in the third as they were forced to persevere, killing off a number of penalties including a two minute 5-on-3. Had the Steelers scored on one of their three powerplays it would have been game on, instead the Rays stood tall and they turned to indiscipline with Derek Campbell receiving a five plus game for spearing and Rob Globke two minutes for roughing followed by a misconduct penalty to all but confirm the result in the Rays favour.

The Stingrays still had more in the tank though and Jereme Tendler went on to capitalise on that indiscipline netting twice on the powerplay before the end of the game, first past Mustukovs before hitting the twine behind back up Brandon Stones, who replaced the Latvian in the Steelers net for the final ten minutes, to complete his hat trick of goals and seal a sweet 7-2 victory.

The win is another big step on the road for Cloutier's side. With Drew Bannister settled into the line-up the defence looked more assured and, although the former NHLer is yet to get off the mark for the club, it is easy to see his experience and cool head at the back is a priceless asset.

The Stingrays are currently very much a beast of Jekyll and Hyde proportions, both in general but more so when they go down to sides. They either capitulate as they did in Cardiff and Sheffield or they rally to claim points as they have done at home against Belfast and Sheffield, and away to Coventry and Newcastle.

The key now for Cloutier and his side is to put that inconsistent form behind them and build on this victory in tomorrow's fixture in Nottingham, who may well be missing a couple of key players after a line brawl erupted in their game against Coventry tonight.

Rays Rating
9

FBB Three Stars
1- Jereme Tendler (3+0)
2- Sylvain Cloutier (0+1)
3- Christian Boucher (36 saves, 38 shots)

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Coburn scoops FBB Player of the Month

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Andrew Coburn has today picked up the F Block Blog Player of the Month award for November after stepping up his consistent play in just his second month as a professional.

The 24 year old, who joined the Stingrays from NCAA college the University of Alabama-Huntsville in the summer, picked up first star awards in the win over Braehead and tight home loss to Coventry and that was enough to fire him to the top of the monthly leader board with 40 points, 20 points ahead of netminder Christian Boucher, who once again finished in second place.

Coburn, although not a regular contributor to the scoresheet, has proven to be a great asset to the club, putting in consistent, hardworking performances game after game. Goals and points from the Canadian are largely seen as a bonus to coach Sylvain Cloutier, who primarily wants the rookie to play a solid two-way game on the Rays forward lines, but he has bagged 12 points in 22 games so far this year including the crucial game winning goal over Newcastle in Whitley Bay on the 20th.

Despite a roller coaster month for the club, Coburn showed signs that he is beginning to acclimatise to the professional game and is starting to go from strength to strength in the Elite League. Needless to say Cloutier will be hoping his consistent performances catch on.

Sunday 28 November 2010

Rays hold Panthers

Excel Hull Stingrays 1-1 Nottingham Panthers

The Excel Hull Stingrays unbelievably inconsistent season continued tonight as they bounced back from an embarrassing 12-0 defeat to Cardiff in the league on Friday night by holding the Nottingham Panthers to a 1-1 draw in the Challenge Cup.

After two scoreless periods in which they out shot the league title contenders by 24-16 the Rays opened the scoring in the third period as an out of form Konstantin Kalmikov netted a powerplay goal to take the lead after 41 minutes, on a goal Christian Boucher assisted for his point of the year.

Sylvain Cloutier's side attempted to cling on to an unlikely 1-0 win in a Challenge Cup they are already knocked out of but Nottingham forward Rob Bellamy bagged the game tying goal eight minutes later.

The tie represents the third game in three in which the Stingrays have claimed a point from one of the league's top sides following a regulation win over Coventry and overtime win against Belfast. Unfortunately that hard work has all too often been undone by crippling defeats.

In the long run the addition of defenceman Drew Bannister, who made his home debut tonight, should help shore up a leaky defence and improve an inconsistent record but few would be surprised if changes were made by Cloutier.

Regardless of how well the Panthers played, the tie is another encouraging result for the Stingrays and should they eventually get their consistency issues fixed, a playoff spot would appear to be a certainty.

Friday 26 November 2010

Stingrays embarrassed on national TV

Cardiff Devils 12-0 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight thoroughly humiliated on national TV, losing out by twelve (12) goals to nil live on Sky Sports 4 in Cardiff.

The Rays night started off badly, as a double from Stuart MacRae put them two behind after just over two minutes in, and got much, much, much worse. Another goal, this time from Kenton Smith, gave the Devils a three goal leading heading into the second with the writing already on the wall in a horrifying Stingrays performance.

Drew Bannister made his debut for Sylvain Cloutier's side but put in a rusty performance, understandable after undergoing a double hernia operation in the summer, and he was helpless to prevent four second period goals from the home side, ending the second at 7-0.

Living and dying as a team, this awful performance was far from one players fault however. Put simply the showing was one of the worst all around team performances ever put in by a Stingrays side, under Cloutier or predecessor Rick Strachan, and to compound matters the game was broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The Devils refused to lay off the lifeless and helpless Stingrays though, piling on a further five goal past netminder Christian Boucher in the third period, tanking the French-Canadian's stats as he allowed 12 goals from 32 shots.

Coach Cloutier now faces the impossible task of picking up his frustratingly inconsistent side after this depressing defeat ahead of a Sunday home game against the Nottingham Panthers in the Challenge Cup, a competition they have already been knocked out of.

Sunday 21 November 2010

Stingrays cut Giants down to size to complete first four point weekend

Excel Hull Stingrays 3-2 Belfast Giants (AOT)

The Excel Hull Stingrays completed their first four point weekend of the season tonight, coming back from two goals down for the second time in two games to defeat league leaders and reigning playoff champions the Belfast Giants by three goals to two in overtime.

Coming off the back of an important win in Whitley Bay, the Stingrays came out the stronger side in the first perhaps unjustly falling behind to a Josh Prudden stike, who capitalised on a rebound from experienced forward Brad Smyth.

Although the Rays edged the first, only a magnificent side-to-side save from netminder Christian Boucher to deny Brett Hemingway, at the very back post that he notched a hat-trick from on his last visit to Hull, prevented the home side from falling further behind.

As expected the league leading Giants stepped it up in the second, doubling their lead in somewhat unexpected fashion on the penalty kill through Mike Bayrack. As Doug Christiansen's side took control of the tie and continued to shut the Stingrays down offensively, Giants keeper Stephen Murphy came up big to deny Trevor Read after the Rays defenceman was presented with the biggest chance of the period.

After being offensively frustrated by the Giants for a good 49 minutes, the Rays finally broke through their opponents solid defence with ten minutes and 18 seconds remaining in the game. Matty Davies worked hard to retain possession of the puck in the corner before firing a pass to the in-form Jereme Tendler, who happily fired home to break the Giants shut out.

With their tails up, the home side went in search of the all important game-tying goal and, after an unsuccessful powerplay attempt, they eventually took the game to overtime. With 24 seconds remaining and with Boucher pulled for the extra outskater coach Sylvain Cloutier jubilantly netted at the back post on a pass from that man Tendler to claim at least a point for the Stingrays.

In overtime, four-on-four the Rays surprisingly had the edge over a speedy Giants side, most likely due to the massive momentum swing of their two late goals.

Murphy was forced to make a miracle diving save to keep his side in the game midway through OT before, 40 seconds prior to the commencement of a shootout, Jason Silverthorn popped up to impossibly slot the puck home, coolly and calmly, to send a jubilant Hull Arena into a frenzy and claim the extra point for the Rays.

The win sealed the club's first four point weekend and first two game winning streak of the season, and catapults them four points ahead of the Dundee, Edinburgh and Newcastle chasing group in seventh with at least four games in hand on all four teams.

The Rays, now riding on a wave of confidence having beaten the Elite League table toppers, must guard against complacency with new signing and former NHLer Drew Bannister due in on Tuesday ahead of a televised Sky clash in Cardiff on Friday night and home league fixture against Nottingham on Sunday

FBB Rating
8.5

FBB Three Stars
1- Christian Boucher (39 saves, 41 shots)
2- Jereme Tendler (1+2)
3- Jason Silverthorn (1+1)

Saturday 20 November 2010

Stingrays fight back from two down to take deserved win from Whitley Bay

Newcastle Vipers 2-4 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays fought back from two goals down to defeat playoff rivals the Newcastle Vipers in the tough surroundings of Whitley Bay Ice Rink tonight.

Buoyed by the return of forward Jason Silverthorn from concussion, the Stingrays yet again fell behind early thanks to a strike from Dale Mahovsky after just 81 seconds but came back strongly to outplay the home side in the first period.

The Vipers, in one of their 'Drive for Five' promotions in which they hope to bring 5,000 fans through Whitley Bay's old doors, came back into the game in the second, doubling their lead on 30 minutes through Toms Hartmanis after the Rays defence allowed the Latvian far too much time and space.

Crucially however, Jereme Tendler netted his 15th of the year and first of the game less two minutes before the of the second to halt the little momentum the Vipers had picked up in the middle stanza.

Ryan Lake then continued a fine run of form in his return to the sport scrambling home the equaliser from close in after Matti Uusivirta had rung the crossbar.

With less than five minutes remaining the Stingrays finally and deservedly took the lead through Andrew Coburn, who wristed a shot past netminder Charlie Effinger to all but seal the teams second win over the Vipers of the year.

Penalty killing specialist Tendler then netted again on the PK with just over two minutes to go to tally his seventh in six games and Lee Mitchell missed an empty net chance from close in before the Rays went home happy.

The victory sends Sylvain Cloutier's side into seventh place, two points ahead of the chasing pack of Newcastle, Dundee and Edinburgh, and six behind sixth placed side Braehead.

Rays Rating
7.5

FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (1+0)
2- Jereme Tendler (2+1)
3- Christian Boucher (24 saves, 26 shots)

Friday 19 November 2010

Grundmanis lands in EPL

Former Excel Hull Stingrays defenceman Kriss Grundmanis - let go and replaced with former NHL blueliner Drew Bannister earlier this week by Sylvain Cloutier - has signed for the Sheffield Steeldogs of the English Premier League.

The 21 year old Latvian was released from his Stingrays contract after failing to make the grade in the Elite League on Tuesday, just days after he bagged a Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring, assisting and fighting against Coventry.

That one off performance was not enough to see the defenceman stay on with the club, however, upon relieving him of his duties with the Rays, coach Cloutier commented that the young defenceman still has a lot to give the sport and his release was largely down to his inability to handle the pressure of regular minutes in the Elite League

He trained and played with the Rays having been given his two-weeks notice but that has officially ended today with the announcement of his signature in Sheffield with the second tier Steeldogs.

The cash strapped Steeldogs are currently languishing at the bottom of the EPL but are continually brimmed with young talent and it is hoped the signing of the similarly young, but internationally experienced Grundmanis will help the club off bottom spot and into the playoffs.

His signing was one of a double, with the announcement that former Newcastle and Coventry Elite League forward Andrew Payette has also joined the Ice Sheffield based side.

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Stingrays tonked in Sheffield

Sheffield Steelers 7-0 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight handed their heaviest defeat of the year in Sheffield, being shut out for the second time this season and allowing the Steelers to help themselves to seven goals at the other end at Ice Sheffield.

Assistant coaching role for Bannister

Defenceman Drew Bannister, the newest addition to the Excel Hull Stingrays and one of the the club's biggest ever name signings, has been handed a dual player-assistant coaching role by head coach Sylvain Cloutier.

The veteran, entering the twilight of his career at the age of 36 after more than 1000 professional appearances, is understandably looking to move into coaching after his playing days are over and Cloutier was more than willing to offer the experienced blueliner a dual role.

The move will almost certainly benefit both parties, giving the Stingrays the experienced blueliner they so crave and Cloutier some support in his role as coach, while also allowing Bannister to make a gradual transition into coaching before retiring from the sport.

Initially it had been questioned whether Bannister, who was captain of AHL side Binghamton last season, would be handed the captaincy role at the Stingrays, however, Kurtis Dulle, who has so far done a sterling job in defence, will remain as the club's on-ice leader with Bannister joining him on the blueline.

Depending on how quickly the VISA application is put together and how smoothly that application goes, it is hoped Bannister will be in the country before the end of the month, in time to face Cardiff and Nottingham on the 27th and 28th.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Tendler named EIHL Player of the Week

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jereme Tendler has been named EIHL Player of the Week having netted five goals and an assist in the Stingrays three fixtures last week.

29 year old Tendler, who joined the Stingrays in the summer from the Corpus Christi Ice Rayz, registered game winning goals against Braehead and Coventry this past week, also netting three shorthanded goals within those five markers.

The Canadian has been a revelation for Sylvain Cloutier thus far this year, accumulating 14 goals from 17 games including all four of the Stingrays game winning goals.

Massive coup for Stingrays as Bannister signs

The Excel Hull Stingrays have today pulled off arguably the biggest coup in ice hockey history in Hull with the signing of former NHL defenceman Drew Bannister.

The 36 year old, who was picked in the second round of the 1992 NHL Draft by Tampa Bay, joins the club having last year signed a one-year two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators of the NHL, spending the season with their AHL affiliate the Binghamton Senators. He replaces Latvian Kriss Grundmanis, who was yesterday released from his contract with the club but will continue to train with the team in the hope of finding another team in the country.

Bannister joins the Stingrays having spent seven years in the NHL, making 164 appearances in the top flight between 95-96 and 00-01 with the likes of Anaheim Ducks, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. He has since made stops in the Russian Superleague, SM Liga and spent three years in the German DEL. Last year he returned to North America, registering four goals and ten assists as he captained Binghamton for 57 AHL games, including the AHL Winter Classic in which the Senators took on the Syracuse Crunch in an outdoor game.

The Belleville, Ontario native is an experienced winner having won the junior CHL Memorial Cup, German Bundesliga, where he was also named defenceman of the year in 07/08, and AHL Calder Cup twice as well as finishing runner up in the SM Liga with Karpat in 02/03.

His signing is undoubtedly a massive one for Sylvain Cloutier and the Stingrays and one that, by its very nature, shores up a defence that has leaked 54 goals against in 12 league games so far this year, an average of 4.5 per game.

Cloutier was naturally delighted with his capture of the former 200 game AHLer:
"He is the real deal. he is a proven winner. He has won a lot of championships and knows what it takes. He is a character guy. It's the biggest signing I have had and I am extremely excited Drew has agreed to come to the Stingrays. It was a no-brainer. The calibre of player we are getting is top notch. He has been around a long time and his resume speaks for itself."
The Canadian's CV is impressive reading for any Stingrays fan beginning to doubt the club's prospects this year and proves, if there were any doubt, the new ownership group in Hull are intent on making the club successful both on and off the ice.

Although he won't be in the line up this week for games against Sheffield, Newcastle and Belfast, he will more likely join up with his new team mates before next weekend's fixtures against Cardiff and Nottingham.

Monday 15 November 2010

Grundmanis released

Latvian defenceman Kriss Grundmanis has today been released by Excel Hull Stingrays coach Sylvain Cloutier after failing to live up to expectations.


The 6'5 blueliner came to Hull having iced in both North America and his native Latvia, where he joined the Stingrays from in the summer. He was the second of the 'twin towers' that Cloutier referred to in the summer and at just 21 he became one of the youngest ever imports to sign for the club joining compatriot Aivars Gasins on the roster.

However, despite a resume that boasted stints in the Canadian junior leagues, ECHL, CHL and, last year, Belarus top flight, he struggled to get to grips with regular shifts in the Elite League.

His lack of physicality, particularly for someone 6'5, was worrying and a number of mistakes that crucially cost his side goals and ultimately points early in the season forced player-coach Cloutier to bench the blueliner. That decision put the writing on the wall for Grundmanis and despite improving in recent weeks, which was largely down to the Riga native keeping his game simpler in the defensive end, he was today relieved.

Ironically his best performance, at least statistically, came last night in his final game in a Stingrays jersey, as he bagged himself a Gordie Howe hat-trick, registering his first goal and first assist of the season while also fighting for the first time this year.

The former Latvian junior international departs Hull having netted that solitary goal and assist in 16 games with the club in a defence that needed shaking up after failing to shine in front of Christian Boucher.

Speculation now mounts as to who Cloutier will replace Grundmanis with, having lost out on his number one target Martin Ondrej, who made a U-turn on his decision to join to club to instead signing in Italy.

A replacement will not be in place for the league fixture in Sheffield on Wednesday nor will he likely join the club in time for games against Newcastle and Belfast at the weekend, however, it is thought that Cloutier is closing in on his target.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 1-3 Coventry Blaze

Sunday 14 November 2010

Challenge Cup revenge for Stingrays over Blaze

Coventry Blaze 1-5 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight gained quick revenge for last night's 3-1 league loss to the Coventry Blaze at the Hull Arena by comprehensively beating the Blaze 5-1 in the Challenge Cup at the Skydome.

Resting Lee Mitchell and still without Ryan Lake, Jason Silverthorn and Craig Mitchell, player-coach and former Blaze captain Sylvain Cloutier gave Thomas Ralph and Callum Rawson their Elite League debuts in Stingrays jerseys.

That did not stop the Rays from yet again getting off to a bad start, conceding after a minute and 32 seconds to a Brad Cruikshank shot, however, with no further goals in the period the visitors, buoyed by a good away following, confidence began to grow.

The second period began with a bang, Stingrays Slovakian defenceman Jozef Sladok dropping the gloves with GB blueliner Jonathan Weaver only for the potential bout to be quickly ended by the linesmens intervention.

18 seconds later though the Rays netted their first of the night through Jereme Tendler, who scored his second shorthanded goal in two games against the Blaze.

Blaze goalscorer Cruikshank then dropped the mitts with Rays defenceman Kriss Grundmanis 25 seconds later, easily dispatching the Latvian, however, that would be one of the few bright moments for the home side in the remaining two periods of hockey.

Tendler would then put the Rays in the lead with his sixth in four Elite League appearances 150 seconds into the third before Grundmanis extended their lead to two with his first goal and first point in Stingrays colours.

The rangy Latvian would then complete an unlikely Gordie How hat trick, the Stingrays second in three games after Lee Mitchell scored, assisted and fought against Braehead, with an assist on a powerplay goal from Andrew Coburn before Matti Uusivirta scored another shorty on 57 minutes to round the scores off at 5-1, surprisingly in favour of the visitors.

Although the Rays were already out of the Challenge Cup competition, the home side were still needing, expecting and working hard for a win that would help them qualify for the semi's.

Nevertheless, for the Stingrays the victory is a much needed shot in the arm for a club that was beginning to appear to struggle for both form and confidence.

That lack of confidence was visible on Saturday night, however, with mooted changes around the corner, things appear to be looking up for Cloutier and his club.

Saturday 13 November 2010

Coventry cruise past Stingrays in ownership battle

Excel Hull Stingrays 1-3 Coventry Blaze

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight took on reigning Elite League champions the Coventry Blaze, battling to a two goal loss to the club they now share an ownership group with.

As close as the scoreline appears, the Rays, who were without Craig Mitchell, Ryan Lake and Jason Silverthorn, only ever looked like taking anything from the game after 55 seconds, when Jereme Tendler banked a shot in off Blaze netminder Brett Jaeger to net his second shorthanded tally in two games giving the Rays a 1-0 lead.

From there on it was all Coventry as Paul Thompson's stacked side took complete and utter control in the first. They levelled just three minutes later as Greg Chambers was allowed to fire glove side past Boucher before the deadly Luke Fulghum made the most of time and space given to him to clinically put the Blaze into the lead.

A mistake from Aivars Gaisins thirty seconds before the end of the first then allowed Owen Fussey to close out the scoring at 3-1 as the Rays crumbled to the quite clearly superior Blaze.

The visitors, in front of a healthy away following, pushed hard in the second but were unable to find the finishing touch that had seen them take a two goal lead in the first with the Stingrays battling hard in defence to prevent any further scores. In their offensive end, the Stingrays struggled on, creating half chances but rarely pressurising the Blaze enough to ever doubt the result.

Some nice work from Matti Uusivirta and Konstantin Kalmikov manufacturer a one time chance for Matty Davies, however, Jaeger, billed as the best of this years crop of netminders, was equal to it impressively saving with his glove.

Heading into the third it was clear the Blaze were conserving energy and effort ahead of the return Challenge Cup fixture, as the Rays came back into the game. Still, despite the visitors laying off the home side, the closest the Rays would come to scoring again would be through rookie Andrew Coburn, who hit the cross bar in another encouraging showing.

Already out of the Challenge Cup, Sylvain Cloutier and his side face the Blaze in the cup competition tomorrow night hoping to improve on a pretty tame showing at home tonight with changes to the playing squad on the horizon.

Rays Rating
5

FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (0+0)
2- Kurtis Dulle (0+0)
3- Matty Davies (0+0)

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Stingrays battle to first win in six

Excel Hull Stingrays 5-4 Braehead Clan

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight battled their way to a one goal victory over the so far impressive Braehead Clan with forward Jereme Tendler netting the vital game tying and game winning goals in the final period.

The home side, clearly victim of a few choice words from coach Sylvain Cloutier pre-game after their 9-4 capitulation to Dundee last time out, began with a spring in their step penning the Glasgow based side in their own end for large periods of the first, deservedly racing into an all too rare two goal lead.

James Archer, beginning his second two-way contract with Hull in two years having decided against joining them permanently in the summer, provided the Rays with extra spark and enthusiasm and, after scoring on his debut last year, netted again just 93 seconds into his first appearance this season.

Continuing their promising first period play against a big, fast Braehead side, Matti Uusivirta then skillfully redirected an Andrew Coburn point shot to double the Stingrays lead on just three minutes.

However, the talking point of the game came after 17 minutes with the Rays 2-0 up as the Stingrays Lee Mitchell, who would eventually come away from the game with a Gordie Howe hat trick, and the Clans player-coach Bruce Richardson dropped the gloves for a fight of pint sized proportions. Although Richardson started undoubtedly the stronger, tying up Mitchell's stronger arm, the Scot fought back admirably, arguably edging the fight to send the Hull Arena into a frenzy heading towards the first intermission.

That lead ultimately saw the Rays home, however, despite outshooting Braehead 26-11 in the second, the Clan won the second period 3-1 to tie the score at three.

Early on, Clan defenceman Mattieu Walthier tamely fired a wrist shot past Christian Boucher from the point to pull one back for his side seconds after the home side had killed a 5-on-3 and then 5-on-4 penalty.

After barraging Perras' net in the second, Lee Mitchell finally broke the Clans resistance adding a powerplay goal to his earlier fight on a pass from Archer.

Unfortuntalely, the ugly side of the Stingrays game then returned as the Clan replied 41 seconds later thanks to a defensive breakdown which allowed Ryan Campbell tap home at the back post. The Scottish side fed off that goal and, to the disbelief of most in the Hull Arena, leveled the scores for the first time in the game 14 seconds before the end of the second through Dominic Noel.

This killed all visible momentum the Rays may have gained from outshooting their opponents and when Campbell scored his second of the game, a near replica of his first 44 seconds into the third, Cloutier's side appeared to have blown it once again.

Thankfully, Jereme Tendler popped up, scrambling home the game tying goal on the powerplay before breaking through two Clan defenceman and finishing past Perras at the second time of asking on the penalty kill with just over five minutes left of the clock.

The Rays again did their best to throw away the two points in the closing stages but shut down the Clans attempts at 6-on-4 to claim their first win in six attempts.

For once Cloutier's side put in a less than perfect performance but came away with the spoils against a good Braehead side that looked a little off their game, particularly in the passing department.

While the Stingrays defence was improved, it will again come under fire for allowing far too many odd man rushes and too many slack plays. Led by Coburn, Mitchell and Archer,  the Rays put in easily their best peformance for a couple of weeks, particularly up front where they were purposeful and dangerous despite missing Jason Silverthorn and Ryan Lake, who was present but did not ice, and with Mitchell and Esders playing injured.

The victory takes the Rays to seventh, two points ahead of the bottom chasing pack of Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle, and eight points behind Braehead with three games in hand.

This coming weekend they face a crunch home and away double header against the in form Coventry Blaze, the side whose ownership group saved the Stingrays in the summer.

Rays Rating
7

FBB Three Stars
1- Andrew Coburn (20)
2- James Archer (10)
3- Lee Mitchell (5)

Sunday 7 November 2010

Stingrays thrashed by bottom side Dundee

Dundee Stars 9-4 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays were tonight thoroughly embarrassed in Scotland, losing to former cellar dwellers Dundee by nine goals to four in their sixth consecutive loss.

Realistically, the game as a contest was over after just 11 minutes and 40 seconds, at which point Peter Cartwright added his second of the game to his earlier marker and Dan Ceman and Tristan Haper goals.

A goal from Mark Nebus further extended the home sides lead to 5-0 in their only score of the second before the Rays finally found the twine through Konstantin Kalmikov, having fired 25 shots in two periods on former goalie Ladislav Kudrna.

24 seconds into the third Dundee netted again through Ceman to end Rays starting netminder Christian Boucher's participation in the game after allowing six goals on 19 shots. The Dundee player coach completed his hat trick two minutes later in a baptism of fire for Rays backup Andrew Jaszczyk, who ended up stopping eight of 11 shots.

The Stars Harper then scored his second of the game before Kalmikov copied the young Brit minutes later to put the score at 8-2. Dundee, presumably taking advantage of some horrific Rays defending, then netted their ninth and, thankfully for Rays fans, final goal of the night 11 seconds later through Cartwright, who secured the second hat trick of the game.

The Rays rallied too little, too late in the third to give the scoreline a perhaps unjustly closer 9-4 scoreline with Matty Davies and Jereme Tendler getting on the scoresheet.

Cloutier's side still managed to outshoot their Scottish opponents 42-30, however, this time that was unable to paper over the cracks of an unacceptable loss.

9-4 is a pathetic scoreline whether facing Dundee, Nottingham or Sheffield, so that is said with no disrespect to Dan Ceman's side who, after solving their poor early season form, have been on a sharp rise in form since. It is inexplicable to concede nine goals to any side, but particularly an inaugural EIHL team that have been rock bottom for the whole year. Unprepared and expecting an easy victory are two things that may have sprung to the Stingrays mind.

The Rays must now progress with their own steep learning curve of massive proportions having been taught a lesson by Dundee. If they are to even have a sniff of the playoffs that will hopefully start tonight on the long trip home from Dundee, continue on Wednesday against Braehead and finish at the end of the season.

The only positive being beamed down from Scotland is that the sheer number of goals conceded must now force coach Cloutier's hand with regards to making changes to the team, most importantly in defence, where his side have been worse than lacklustre this year.

Early in the year good performances in losses against the top sides covered over the fallacies in defence because it was accepted that loss was almost inevitable and that things would improve against sides lower down.

Things haven't changed and Cloutier and his side have now reached tipping point.

They face Braehead in front of what must be now a sceptical and pessimistic fanbase on Wednesday before a weekend home and away double header against the Coventry Blaze

Saturday 6 November 2010

Steelers score second 6-3 cup win over Stingrays

Excel Hull Stingrays 3-6 Sheffield Steelers

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight went down to their second 6-3 Challenge Cup loss of the season against Yorkshire rivals the Sheffield Steelers.

Rarely this season have the Rays gotten off to a flying start, in fact quite the opposite has regularly been the case, and a goal from Steelers player-coach Ben Simon after just 78 seconds continued that bad habit.

They did however briefly respond, in a first period that would prove to be their best, Kurtis Dulle scoring his second of the year as the game neared just four minutes.

Simon responded with his second of the game for the Steelers to retake the lead eight minutes in but the Rays would go on to take the lead for the first and only time in the game with goals from Jereme Tendler and Matty Davies before the break.

That was as good as it would get for the home side as the Steelers would shut out the Rays in the final two periods as Sylvain Cloutier's side began to run out of ideas.

The Steelers would eventually stroll to a 6-3 victory thanks to further goals from Jeff Legue, Steve Munn, Rod Sarich and Jermaine Domish.

First period aside, perhaps one of the few positives from this performance is that it was a Challenge Cup fixture and, with the club already out, the result was pretty meaningless, even if local pride was at stake.

The Rays travel to in improving Dundee side tomorrow in what is undoubtedly a massive fixture for both sides with Dundee up and running having recorded their first win of the year against Cardiff.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Silverthorn doubtful as defence comes under fire

Jason Silverthorn looks set to miss this weekends fixtures at home to Yorkshire rivals Sheffield in the Challenge Cup and away to cellar dwellers Dundee after sustaining an expected concussion in the 5-0 league defeat in Nottingham last night.

The 31 year old was on the receiving end of a dubious hit from Nottingham's Guillaume Lepine, the rangy defenceman initially signed to the Stingrays by Sylvain Cloutier in the summer.

Reports suggest Silverthorn was levelled hard and high, although quite how high is still being debated, by Lepine after he had exited the penalty box having served minutes for a kneeing offence, leaving the Rays player out cold on the ice.

Rays defenceman Jozef Sladok stepped in to fight Lepine for his hit on one of the Rays key players and he was then thrown out of the game by referee Michael Hicks.

The Panthers D man has since been banned for four games - his second such ban for a check to the head this year after an incident with Sheffield's Rob Globke earlier in October - and he has reopened the debate on borderline illegal hits that result in injury.

Silverthorn will be assessed again before this weekend but will probably sit out both games with medical staff likely to approach any head injury with caution.

The Stingrays went on to be taught a lesson by the Panthers, losing 5-0, and the defeat, the club's tenth of the year, has caused the first real concern of the year over the makeup of Cloutier's side.

With just two wins, an overtime loss and a draw to their name in 12 games, changes appear on the cards particularly given that the encouraging initial performances have now begun to dry up.

Injuries have, of course, taken their toll, testing the real quality and depth of Cloutier's squad but his side are really no different to any other Elite League side in that all important facet of the game.

In Jereme Tendler, Matti Uusivirta and Jason Silverthorn the club have more than enough in-form firepower to compete and teeter on the edge of the 500. win mark. Sure, Konstantin Kalmikov looks a shadow of his former self, most likely down to injury, but the backing cast of Andrew Coburn, Lee Mitchell et al gives them more than enough up front, even if the whole team is largely physically invisible.

By all accounts Christian Boucher is performing pretty well too, so the spotlight shines brightly on D in front of him.

Now, by process of elimination the exact location of the club's problem becomes clear.

Captain Kurtis Dulle is performing miracles, icing in all situations and, at times, leading the offence from defence while Craig Mitchell is a prized asset as a young up and coming British defenceman, even if he is currently injured. Aivars Gaisins, while hardly setting the league alight, has been reliable and has another job in the city so is pretty untouchable from a budget point of view.

That leaves so called twin towers Jozef Sladok and Kris Grundmanis and alternate captain Trevor Read.

Slovak Sladok has been steady, although given his size he could do with being much more physical, so looks relatively safe unless a wholescale shift in defence is undertaken by Clouts.

However, having had a very shakey start, his D partner Grundmanis looks less certain. Having been benched and used out of position as forward in recent weeks, most notably at home to Cardiff, he would deservedly appear odds on favourite to be replaced.

It has been noted, however, that he has kept his game simpler as of late and he appeared very determined to prove Cloutier wrong in his only shift against Cardiff. Perhaps a sign he has adapted to the British game and has learnt his lesson.

Canadian Read has slipped under the radar somewhat, his lack of pace has been an issue and partly down to blame for the number of breakaways the Stingrays blueline have allowed thus far, and his unnecessarily fancy play in his own end has caused more trouble than it has relieved.

Either way something has to give if the club is to retain it's early momentum, either they start collating points in order to maintain their seventh place as their vital games in quickly hand run out, or changes will have to be made.

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Stingrays shutout in Nottingham

Nottingham Panthers 5-0 Excel Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays were shut out for the first time of the year tonight at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, losing out by five goals to nil to Corey Neilson's big spenders in both league and Challenge Cup play.

Lee Esders returned to action for the Rays after a knee injury but that was not enough to buck worrying trend of conceding first and early, as David Alexandre Beauregard netted little over three minutes in for the only goal of the first period as the home side outshot the Rays 16-7.

Despite resisting much of what the Panthers had to throw at them in the first, the second period once again proved the Rays biggest stumbling block as Jonathan Zion, David Clarke and Robert Lachowicz all scored to extend the Panthers lead to four.

Undoubtedly the biggest moment of the second period came after 12 minutes when Jason Silverthorn was caught with his head down by Guillaume Lepine, the man who left the Rays without playing a game following the club's financial troubles, and he levelled the in form Stingrays forward leaving him flat out on the ice.

Silverthorn left the game and Lepine went on to fight Rays D man Jozef Sladok for his actions. However, there may be future repercussions for the Panthers player, who has previous with the league disciplinary committee having been banned for a similar hit on Sheffield's Rob Globke earlier in the season.

As they did against Cardiff on Saturday, the Rays picked it up in the third, out chancing the Panthers and outshoting them 12-4. But despite pushing forward for a consolation goal it was the Panthers Billy Ryan who would net the final goal of the game with the buzzer sounding at 5-0.

Having witnessed another disheartening performance from his side, in which they conceded five without reply, coach Cloutier will undoubtedly want to change things up sooner rather than later in order to stop the rot.

With Tendler, Uusivirta and Silverthorn scoring, and other forwards performing well despite being down on numbers, the blueline would appear the number one target for the coach, particularly after he benched Latvian Kris Grundmanis for the majority of Sunday's Cardiff game. However, he may yet wait for his side to return to full strength before making changes to his roster.

This weekend the Rays face Sheffield at the Hull Arena on Saturday before travelling to Dundee in the league on Sunday in a must win game against the bottom side.

Monday 1 November 2010

Silver claims first FBB Player of the Month

Excel Hull Stingrays forward Jason Silverthorn has claimed F Block Blog's first ever player of the month award after putting in a string of team leading performances in October.

Despite arriving late for his second year with the club, the Canadian forward lead the club with points (13) last month, registered six goals and seven assists in 13 games along the way. Although the opportunistic Jereme Tendler currently leads the club in goals and also has 13 points on the year, Silverthorn has lead by example offensively, helping the club into seventh place in the Elite League.

Silverthorn pipped Christian Boucher to the post, claiming FBB's first star in the home and home double header against Belfast and Newcastle last weekend after the Rays netminder had claimed the opening two awards in standout performances against Cardiff and Nottingham.

Despite missing much of the month with a knee injury, Lee Mitchell finished in joint third, after being awarded second star in his goalscoring return to action against Cardiff weekend, alongside Finn Matti Uusivirta, who impressed in his first month in the UK.

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 2-4 Cardiff Devils

Sunday 31 October 2010

Halloween shocker for Rays

Excel Hull Stingrays 2-4 Cardiff Devils

The Excel Hull Stingrays tonight put in easily their worst performance of the season going down by four goals to two to the Cardiff Devils.

Rays rating: 4.5
FBB Three Stars: 1-Andrew Coburn (0+0) 2-Lee Mitchell (1+0) 3-Matti Uusivirta (0+0)
Stingray goalscorers: L.Mitchell, Silverthorn
Cardiff goalscorers: Voth, Pelle, S.Smith, Michel
SOG: 43-31
PIM: 10-14

Saturday 30 October 2010

Rays suffer Challenge Cup loss in Wales

Cardiff Devils 7-4 Hull Stingrays

The Excel Hull Stingrays Challenge Cup hopes tonight suffered a blow as they went down by seven goals to four in Cardiff after conceding three goals in less than three second period minutes.

A first goal for Jozef Sladok and another marker from Konstantin Kalmikov had given the Rays a 2-1 first period lead before Cardiff levelled through coach Gerad Adams just prior to the first break after initially taking the lead through Max Birbraer five minutes in.

The Rays then collapsed, effectively handing the Devils the two points, by allowing three goals in just over 150 seconds with Tylor Michel netting a double after Birbraer had netted his second of the game.

Sylvain Cloutier's side showed brief signs of a resurgence at the beginning of the third, scoring on 44 and 45 minutes through on form goalscorers Matti Uusivirta and Jereme Tendler.

However, a third double of the night for Cardiff, this time from Jon Pelle, sealed a 7-4 Challenge Cup win in favour of the Welsh side.

Rays scorers: Sladok, Kalmikov, Uusivirta, Tendler
Cardiff scorers: Birbraer (2), Pelle (2), Adams, Michel (2)
SOG: 44-28
PIM: 30-22

Tonks joins Rays

British forward Dean Tonks has today joined the Excel Hull Stingrays on a two-way contract from ENL side the Solihull Barons.

Friday 29 October 2010

30th/31st October Haloween Weekend Preview

 V
Saturday 30th October: Cardiff Devils v Excel Hull Stingrays @ Cardiff Bay Arena F/O 7pm 
Sunday 31st October: Excel Hull Stingrays v Cardiff Devils @ Hull Arena 6pm

This weekend the Excel Hull Stingrays face the Cardiff Devils for the second and third times this year having tied with Gerad Adams side on opening day less than a month ago.

The opening fixture between the two sides saw the Rays bounce back from 3-1 down to snatch their first point of the year in their first game. However, the game was marred by an incident which saw Devils blueliner Justin Sawyer ejected and later suspended for a further three games for a sucker punch on Kris Grundmanis, after Rays defencemen had allegedly manhandled top scorer Jon Pelle

Although Sawyer has now left the Devils for 'personal reasons', Adams and his side vowed to get revenge for what happened to Pelle that night and with tough guy and entertainer Brad Voth back from a thumb injury, the two game weekend series looks set to be a corker.

Since the Challenge Cup draw in early October, the Devils have gone on a run that, prior to last night, had seen them win five games in an eight game spell losing to just Belfast and Coventry. However, yesterday the Devils surprisingly handed bottom side Dundee their first win in the Elite League in a 7-3 loss in Scotland.

The Rays have been performing well recently, if not always claiming the points they deserve, and will be without four Brits through injury. Although reinforcements may or may not be on their way this weekend, deadly import trio Jereme Tender, Matti Uusivirta and Jason Silverthorn have filled the void netting ten goals between them in the last three games as Sylvain Cloutier's side picked up three points.

With a Challenge Cup game in Cardiff on Sunday, the more important fixture comes on Halloween on Sunday when Adams side travel to Hull in the Elite League for a Devil of a night.

Challenge Cup Record
Stingrays: 5TH 2GP 0W 1T 1L 6GF 9GA 1PTS
Cardiff: 2ND 5GP 2W 2T 1L 21GF 22GA 3PTS

Elite League Record
Stingrays: 7TH 7GP 2W 4L 1OTL 22GF 29GA 5PTS
Cardiff: 5TH 11GP 7W 5L 0OTL 55GF 45GA 14PTS


Form
Stingrays: L L L W L
Cardiff: W W W W L

Last 3 Meetings
v Cardiff
14/02/10 7-0 L A
21/03/10 2-3 L H
03/10/10 3-3 D H

Stingrays 10/11 Series 
v Cardiff: 1GP 0 wins, 0 losses, 1 tie 1 point, 3 goals for, 3 goals against.

Top Scorers
Stingrays
G: Tendler (7)
A: Dulle (7)
PIM: Sladok (40)

Cardiff
G: Pelle (18)
A: Matzka (18)
PIM: Michel (76)

Between the Pipes
Stingrays: Christian Boucher (9GP 4.00GAA 88.7sv.%)
Cardiff: Stevie Lyle (8=17GP 4.22GAA 86.4sv.%)

Absentees
Stingrays: Lee Mitchell (knee), Ryan Lake (broken thumb), Craig Mitchell (broken arm), Lee Esders (knee)
Cardiff: Full Strength

Predictions
Cardiff 4-2 Stingrays
Stingrays 4-3 Cardiff

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Brits the target of latest injury curse

The dreaded injury curse that will likely strangle every Elite League side over the course of the 56 game schedule has struck Sylvain Cloutier's Excel Hull Stingrays side hard and early.

Cloutier, who was last season deprived of mainly defencemen early in the year, has this season lost four British players less than a month into the campaign.

19 year old defenceman Craig Mitchell was the first victim, breaking his arm blocking a shot in Braehead, before older brother Lee followed less than a  week later suffering an unspecified injury that later turned out to be a reoccurance of the knee injury that has so far plagued his career.

Forward Ryan Lake, who has started off the season where he left the sport four years ago, then broke a bone in his thumb having taken a tumble into the boards against Newcastle on Sunday, before Lee Esders injured his knee in an innocuous challenge in Belfast last night, potentially ruling him out for two months.

With the exception of Lee Mitchell, who may return in a shorter time frame depending of the severity of his injury, the foursome are all likely to sit out at least four weeks leaving Cloutier's side short for a minimum of 13 games.

The injuries might not have been so bad had they been to imports, given availability of replacement Europeans and North Americans in comparison to the scarcity of available British trained players, all of whom are already signed up and playing.

Realistically, unless he is looking for a long term replacement for one of the four, Cloutier will have to scavenge for two-way contracts with English Premier League or English National League sides, like he did last year with James Archer.

Despite quitting on the team after originally signing in the summer, Archer may be one of the players Cloutier approaches, having hit four goals and four assists in ten games with the EPL Manchester Phoenix

Indeed, there may be other options at the Phoenix, or nearby EPL sides Sheffield and Peterborough, but with the club down to just 12 outskaters, including just two Brits, Matty Davies and the inexperienced Ben Lowe, it is important the right players are signed and available to ice for the Rays as regularly and as soon as possible.

Time is not something Cloutier has in abundance though, with a home and away double header against Cardiff quickly approaching this weekend before a game in Nottingham next Wednesday.

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Rays gain point in Northern Ireland

Belfast Giants 5-4 Excel Hull Stingrays (AOT)

The Excel Hull Stingrays bounced back from defeat to the Belfast Giants on Saturday by taking them to overtime before eventually falling 5-4 in Northern Ireland tonight, claiming a vital and unexpected point in the process.

The visitors bucked an all too regular trend on the night, taking the lead through stand out forward Jason Silverthorn, who registered two goals and one assists in the game, before the Giants levelled through Joshua Prudden.

As was the case on Saturday, Sylvain Cloutier's struggled in the second period, conceding three times through Craig Peacock, Jon Glled and Brett Hemingway. However, Jereme Tendler netted his fifth in three games and the Rays only goal of the second to go into the final period down 4-2.

With four players already out and Mark Garside leaving the game injured, the Rays knew they would have to take advantage of the understrength Giants in the final period when they would be most tiresome.

They did that, as Matti Uusivirta netted his second in two games before Silverthorn levelled the scores at four with his second of the game, minutes after missing a penalty shot, to guarantee his side at least a point.

Unfortunately, the Giants regrouped in overtime and snatched the extra point thanks to Dan Welch, who scored the games sixth powerplay goal of the game.

Cloutier will undoubtedly be happy with a point against the league leaders, particularly having been outshot for one of, if not the only time this season.

Also encouragingly, his side continue to score goals through key forwards Tendler, Uusivirta and Silverthorn, and they continue to compete with the leagues better sides, even if they were understrength.

Having moved into seventh place, they now move on to a home and away double header against the Cardiff Devils, travelling down to Wales in the Challenge Cup on Saturday before returning to Hull 24 hours later in league play.

Rays scorers: Silverthorn (2), Tendler, Uusivirta
Belfast scorers: Prudden, Peacock, Gleed, B.Hemingway, Welch
SOG: 40-29
PIM: 10-14

Monday 25 October 2010

26th October Midweek Preview


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Tuesday 26th October: Belfast Giants v Excel Hull Stingrays @ Odyssey Arena F/O 7.30pm


The Excel Hull Stingrays face a quick return to action on Tuesday night with an away fixture against last Saturday's opponents the Belfast Giants at the Odyssey Arena in Northern Ireland.

Although the Rays were beaten by the league leaders last time out, they out shot Doug Christiansen's side and ended the game clearly on top of an injury ravaged Belfast side.

The Giants will still be without a number of key players tomorrow night, although Mark Garside has returned to action, but they will be eager to maintain their lead at the top having lost 2-0 to Coventry on Sunday.

Sylvain Cloutier has his own injury worries as the crippling injury curse threatens to make a return with key Brits Ryan Lake, Craig Mitchell and Lee Mitchell all out.

Having proven in those final minutes on Saturday that they can compete with the Giants, injury hit or not, the Rays will want to build on those closing minutes and their win against Newcastle on Sunday with another victory.

In form forwards Jason Silverthorn and Jereme Tender, who has four goals in two games, will be key as will building off Sunday's improved defensive performance.

Elite League
Stingrays: 9th 6GP 2W 4L 0OTL 18GF 24GA 4PTS
Belfast: 1st 15GP 12W 2L 1OTL 59GF 40GA 23PTS

Form
Stingrays: L L L L W
Belfast: W W W W L

Last 3 Meetings
v Belfast
04/02/10 4-2 L A
04/03/10 9-0 L A
23/10/10 3-5 L H

Rays 09/10 Series
v Belfast: 8GP 2W 6L 14GF 37GA 4PTS

Top Scorers
Stingrays
G: Tendler (6)
A: Dulle, Kalmikov, Read (5)
PIM: Sladok (40)

Belfast
G: B.Hemingway (13)
A: Shields (13)
PIM: Welch (28)

Between The Pipes
Stingrays: Boucher (6GP 88.7sv% 4.44GAA)
Belfast: Murphy (14GP 91.6sv% 2.62GAA)

Absentees
Stingrays: Craig Mitchell (broken arm), Lee Mitchell (knee), Ryan Lake (broken thumb), Jozef Sladok
Belfast: Jeff Mason (wrist), Richard Seeley (knee), Colin Hemingway (unspecified injury), Brandon Benedict (leg)

Predictions
Belfast 5-2 Stingrays

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 4-2 Newcastle Vipers

Match Highlights: Excel Hull Stingrays 3-5 Belfast Giants

Sunday 24 October 2010

Rays sting Vipers for first home win of year

Excel Hull Stingrays 4-2 Newcastle Vipers

Doubles from Jereme Tendler and Matti Uusivirta tonight helped the Excel Hull Stingrays end their three game home winless streak as they gained revenge for defeat in Whitley Bay last Saturday with a 4-2 victory over the Newcastle Vipers.

Injuries to Brits Ryan Lake, Craig Mitchell and Lee Mitchell forced coach Sylvain Cloutier to mix things around, pairing young Brit Ben Lowe primarily with Uusivirta and Konstantin Kalmikov while in form pair Matty Davies and Jason Silverthorn continued together.

Those changes caused the Vipers problems early on with keeper Effinger forced to make a trio of tidy kick saves from Rays forwards, although it was the visitors who had mustered the first chance of the game through Dean Holland.

They would also score the first goal of the game as a poor pass from captain Kurtis Dulle along his offensive blueline during a Vipers powerplay would let the Vipers counter and eventually net through Dale Mahovsky.

The Rays then went down to four defenceman for the remained of the game as Jozef Sladok rightly or wrongly received a five plus game penalty for a check to the head on Nathan Salem. Nevertheless, thanks to yet another sterling effort on the penalty kill, particularly from man of the match Silverthorn, who held off four Vipers to kill a large portion of the penalty, the five minute advantage went unpunished and the period ended with the Vipers leading a largely even first 20 minutes.

Save for a few more goals the second period could not have been much better from a Stingrays point of view. They shot out of the blocks first levelling on the powerplay through Uusivirta, who rifled high past Effinger from the point 51 seconds in, before the Finn grabbed a second on a rebound from a Kalmikov shot to hand the home side a lead they would not relinquish.

Jereme Tendler then one timed home the Stingrays third of the game on the powerplay to end the scoring in a 20 minute period of complete and utter dominance from the home team, who outshot an indisciplined Vipers side an astonishing 22-2.

After being completely outplayed in the second Danny Stewart's side came out in the third looking to prove a point and take both points on offer.

They did the former, refusing to give up on the cause with Patrick Forsbacka scored on the man advantage to reduce the lead to 3-2 as they appeared to turn a corner.

However, indiscipline again returned to the Vipers ranks costing them the chance to capitalise on their improved third period performance as four minor penalties were dished out to them in the final 10 minutes, including four to Forsbacka, who picked up his sixth and eighth of the game, to allow the Rays to re-establish their grip on the game.

Tendler ended the scoring by racking up his second of the game and fourth of the weekend to seal the deal and give Cloutier's side their first win of the season at Hull Arena, ironically in their worst home showing of the year.

A tough matchup against the Belfast Giants in Northern Ireland on Tuesday follows before a home and away double header against the Cardiff Devils next weekend.

Rays rating: 6.5
Stingray goalscorers: Tendler (2), Uusivirta (2)
Newcastle goalscorers: Mahovsky, Forsbacka
SOG: 43-24
PIM: 49-24
FBB Three Stars: 1-Silverthorn (0+0) 2-Uusivirta (2+0) 3-Davies (0+1)

Saturday 23 October 2010

Giants power to victory as Rays lose fourth in a row

Excel Hull Stingrays 3-5 Belfast Giants

The Excel Hull Stingrays fell to their fourth defeat on the bounce tonight at the Hull Arena, putting in a third positive home performance of the year, only to go down 5-3 to the league leading Belfast Giants.

Once again the Rays, who were without brothers Lee and Craig Mitchell, handed their opponents a one goal lead early on as the Giants Brett Hemingway capitalised at the backdoor of Christian Boucher's net to punish a poor line change.

In man of the match performance Jason Silverthorn then manufactured a number of chances before his blocked shot fell to Jereme Tendler on seven minutes, who fired high past Belfast keeper Stephen Murphy to level the scores at one.

As well as conceding early on, Sylvain Cloutier's side have also picked up an unhealthy habit of allowing goals against shortly after scoring themselves. Although they have attempted the eradicate that in recent weeks, the Giants were allowed to take the lead seconds later as Boucher poked at the puck having misjudged a dump into the Rays zone to let Jon Gleed to hit the net.

In a fairly even first period the home side then forced an impressive double save from netminder Murphy before Mike Hoffman objected to Cloutier crashing the net to force a Belfast defenceman on top of the Giants keeper, livening the game up physically.

As the period came to a close Hoffman and Cloutier continued their cat and mouse duel with both looking for the advantage heading into a first intermission in which Belfast would lead by one.

Belfast came out in the second looking to impose their undoubted quality on the game and that is exactly what Doug Christiansen's team did.

Former NHLer Brad Smyth was handed a great chance on a 5-on-3 powerplay before Hemingway netted his second of the game and the Giants second powerplay goal to extend their lead to two.

While the Rays put pressure late on, this had been Belfast's period and a suspected broken hand to Ryan Lake in the third period would make it hard for the Rays, who reverted Kriss Grundmanis to forward and switched down to two lines for the final third.

Belfast didn't let up at the start of the final stanza either, as Hemingway netted a perfect replica of his second to complete his hat-trick on the powerplay six minutes after the break.

Former NHLer Brad Smyth netted the goal he had threatened all night on 49 minutes before the home side mounted an unlikely come back as Murphy produced a juicy rebound from yet another Silverthorn shot to allow Konstantin Kalmikov to fire into a near empty net in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance from the Ukrainian.

Three minutes later Tendler scored his second of the game on the powerplay firing a speculative shot home as that come back gained yet more momentum at 5-3.

Silverthorn was at the heart of everything good that the Rays produced and, after hitting the post, he wondrously danced his way through the Giants defence only to be denied again by Murphy.

The Giants netminder again proved his worth as the game came to a close, denying Uusivirta from close in before making a double save from Silverthorn as Christiansen's side eventually managed to shut the game down at 5-3.

For the third successive game the Rays produced a performance worthy of a point and, although the Giants certainly deserved the win, the home side made them work for the two points particularly at the end and once again proved they can skate with the Elite League's big spenders.

Having put in three decent performances at the Hull Arena, claiming just one point, Sunday night sees the Newcastle Vipers travel to the Hull Arena in which the victory is more important than the performance for the home side, who will be looking for revenge for the defeat suffered at Whitley Bay last weekend.

Rays rating: 7
Stingray goalscorers: Tendler (2), Kalmikov
Belfast goalscorers: B.Hemingway (3), Smyth, Gleed
SOG: 43-39
PIM: 8-10
FBB Three Stars 1: Silverthorn (0+2) 2: Tendler (2+0) 3: Davies (0+1)